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Each year Insiders’ Betting Digest conducts a comprehensive assessment of the top online sportsbooks, with the goal of finding and recommending the best overall gambling destinations to our readers. We started this with edition #1 and in this, our tenth season, we present a clear cut winner after using the most exhaustive and thorough analysis techniques available.
Our IBD review panel consists of industry experts, legal professionals, marketing and gaming gurus as well as a top-notch technical test group. Using in-depth research and analysis, they break down every factor that helps make a great sportsbook. Bonuses, payouts, customer service, web site speed and security – we test and rate these and many more. When Insiders’ Betting Digest searches for the world’s #1 sportsbook, you can be sure we leave no stone unturned.
With over 600 legal gambling companies operating worldwide, your betting options are almost unlimited. But an operation won’t even make the IBD Top 25 unless they have been in operation for more than five years and have no current outstanding customer issues. Just making this short list is an honor!
The first priority when choosing a sportsbook has always been the security of your money. The widest variety of lines, slickest web site and largest range of deposit methods mean nothing if you can’t be sure that your winning balance will be quickly and safely delivered into your hands.
Second is the disparity in customer service given to small and large betting accounts. These days it has never been more obvious to us that an operation will often only start to value you as a bettor after you have become a high roller. As part of our testing, we created 3 different accounts with each sportsbook on our short list. In the first accounts we deposited and wagered with $5,000. In the second, $500 and in the third just $100. In total we opened more than 120 test accounts wagering hundreds of thousands of dollars. This way we not only evaluated each site’s online wagering interface and phone betting service at both maximum and minimum betting limits, but we also scored their customer service for small and large bettors alike. Our overall choice was the only one to treat all three customers with an extremely high level of professional service.
Here are the Top 10 factors to consider when selecting your Sportsbook:
1. Years in Operation
Your sportsbook should have at least 5 years of successful operation under their belt, along with a solid track record and a reputation based on performance, not promises.
2. Security of Funds
A sportsbook needs to demonstrate to IBD that funds will be safe and secure once you’ve deposited. In addition, they need to provide us with fiduciary failsafe procedures and answer customer inquiries of a financial matter within a maximum of 24 hours.
3. Management
A successful sportsbook needs vision of leadership combined with strong day-to-day management. The knowledge and availability of its supervisors, operations managers and executives is very important.
4. Methods of Deposit
A trusted and established sportsbook will offer a wide variety of deposit methods, including credit card, bank wire and person-to-person direct transfers.
5. Customer Service
When you call a sportsbook’s customer service department are you greeted by a friendly, informative, English-speaking representative? Is 24/7 assistance available? We made over 50 calls to each sportsbook on our short list to gauge their commitment to making the customer #1 and to ensure we covered a good sample of their staff. Speedy payouts are a must.
6. Liberal Wagering Rules
11/10 on straight wagers is a must, but you should look for favorable odds on parlays, teasers and exotic wagers. Likewise, you should be able to find a wide variety of sports and leagues to bet on.
7. State-of-the-Art Technology
As the industry evolves to new technical standards, the benefit to the consumer is immediate. Fast and secure processing, lightning quick communications and failsafe wagering ability are all key. Bonus marks for those sites that have evolved over time to continue to upgrade their site functionality.
8. Country of Operations
Make sure the sportsbook operates in a country or jurisdiction that allows this type of operation. If it does, check to see if the company is legally licensed to operate a gaming business in that jurisdiction.
9. Internet Access
Placing a bet 10 minutes before the big game when traffic is at a peak is a good test of a sportsbook’s technical ability to handle increased wager loads. If their web site isn’t lightning fast and easy to navigate just before kick-off, then take your business elsewhere!
10. Advertising and Promotions
What are they offering and where are they doing it? Are sites that you deem as reputable carrying their advertisements or live odds? Sportsbooks with a large media presence on the internet and via traditional advertising like direct mail are the sites you should trust. Why? They have the financial clout to attract and retain a large number of customers and this comes only from a strong marketing and operational vision.
On the following pages, you’ll find our winner for this year’s #1 sportsbook in the world. |
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